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Soil Biology & Ecology

Part 2 – 112 | Unit 2.3

PREPARATION

SHOVEL-COUNT METHOD

œÀÊ̅iÊŜÛi‡VœÕ˜Ìʓi̅œ`]ÊÛiÀÞʏˆÌ̏iÊ«Ài«>-

ration is required. Identify sample areas, try to

collect a similar soil volume at each location,

and record results.

VERMIFUGE METHOD

The vermifuge method requires more prepara-

tion. Sample rings must be obtained or made.

"̅iÀʓ>ÌiÀˆ>ÃʓÕÃÌÊLiÊ}>̅iÀi`°Ê/œÊ“ˆ˜ˆ“ˆâiÊ

the amount of time needed for the demonstra-

tion, sample rings can be set out the day before.

Ideally a minimum of 4 can be set out per habi-

tat. Select areas with contrasting management

Ài}ˆ“iðÊ*œÃÈLiʅ>LˆÌ>ÌÃʈ˜VÕ`iʜÀV…>À`]ÊÀœÜÊ

VÀœ«]Êv>œÜ]Ê>˜`Ê՘VՏ̈Û>Ìi`Êwi`Ê܈Ã°

To begin the demonstration, gather group at

one sample ring to explain technique. Divide

class evenly among the number of sample rings

>˜`ʅ>ÛiÊi>V…ʺÀˆ˜}‡Ìi>“»ÊVœiVÌÊ̅iˆÀÊÃ>“«i°Ê

>Ûiʜ˜iÊ«iÀܘʈ˜Êi>V…ÊÌi>“Ê`œÊ>ÊŜÛi‡VœÕ˜ÌÊ

at each site for comparison. Collect results and

derive an average abundance per habitat. Ob-

serve species differences and discuss results.

PROCEDURE

1. Select sample area.

Ê Ó°Ê*>ViÊÃ>“«iÊÀˆ˜}Ãʜ˜Ê̅iÊÃÕÀv>ViʜvÊ̅iÊÈÌiÊ
and push them several inches into the soil.

3. Carefully clip vegetation and removed all
   litter from inside sample area.


4. Slowly sprinkle 4.5 liters of vermifuge into
   each sample area, distributing it evenly over
   the entire surface.

Ê x°Ê
vÌiÀÊ>ÊœvÊ̅iÊÛiÀ“ˆvÕ}iÊ܏Ṏœ˜Êˆ˜wÌÀ>ÌiÃÊ
̅iÊ܈]ÊÜ>ˆÌÊ£äʓˆ˜ÕÌiÃ]Ê>˜ʓ>ŽiÊ>ÊÃiVœ˜Ê
ÛiÀ“ˆvÕ}iÊ>««ˆV>̈œ˜Ê­{°xʏˆÌiÀî°

6. Collect all earthworms that surface inside the
   sample area.

Ê Ç°Ê
vÌiÀÊ£äʓˆ˜ÕÌiÃÊi>«ÃiÊȘViʈ˜wÌÀ>̈œ˜Ê
of the second vermifuge application, use a
hand spade to dig through the surface layer
œvÊ܈Ê­HxÊV“Êii«®Ê>˜ÊVœiVÌi`Ê>˜ÞʓœÀiÊ
earthworms found there.

Ê n°Ê,ˆ˜ÃiÊi>À̅ܜÀ“Ãʈ˜ÊÜ>ÌiÀ]Ê`À>ˆ˜]Ê>˜`ÊÃ̜ÀiÊ

in containers inside an insulated cooler with

ˆViÊ«>VŽÃʭ՘iÃÃÊÃ>“«iÃÊ>ÀiÊ̜ÊLiÊVœÕ˜Ìi`ʈ˜Ê

̅iÊwi`Ê>˜`ÊÀiÌÕÀ˜i`Ê̜Ê̅iÊÃ>“«iÊ>Ài>®°

9. An alternate method that does not require a
   sample ring can be found in the USDA Soil
   +Õ>ˆÌÞÊ/iÃÌʈÌÊՈ`i]Ê܅ˆV…ʈÃÊ>Û>ˆ>Liʜ˜Ê
   ̅iʈ˜ÌiÀ˜iÌÊ­ÃiiÊ,iÜÕÀViÃÊÃiV̈œ˜®°

PREPARATION TIME

œÀÊ̅iÊŜÛi‡VœÕ˜Ìʓi̅œ`]Êä°xʅœÕÀʈÃÊ>Ê̅>ÌÊ

ˆÃʘii`i`°ÊœÀÊ̅iÊÛiÀ“ˆvÕ}iʓi̅œ`]ÊÃiÛiÀ>Ê

hours or more may needed to gather materials.

DEMONSTRATION TIME

1.5–2 hours

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Ê £°ÊœÃÌÊi>À̅ܜÀ“ÊëiVˆiÃÊvœÕ˜`ʈ˜Êv>À“i`Ê

soils in the U.S. were not present in those

܈ÃÊ{ääÊÞi>ÀÃÊ>}œ°Ê7…iÀiÊ`œÊޜÕÊ̅ˆ˜ŽÊ̅iÞÊ

came from?

Ê Ó°Ê

œ“«>ÀiÊޜÕÀÊw˜`ˆ˜}ÃÊvÀœ“Ê`ˆvviÀi˜ÌÊ

…>LˆÌ>ÌðÊ7…ˆV…Ê…>LˆÌ>ÌÃʅ>`Ê̅iʓœÃÌÊ

i>À̅ܜÀ“ÃÊ«iÀÊÃ>“«iÊ>Ài>¶Ê7…ˆV…Ê…>`Ê̅iÊ

…ˆ}…iÃÌÊ`ˆÛiÀÈÌÞÊ­}Ài>ÌiÃÌʘՓLiÀʜvÊëiVˆiî¶Ê

7…Þ¶

3. Determine what ecological types of
   earthworm were present in each sample area
   ­ÃiiÊu />LiÊÓ°£Î]Ê«>}iÊӇ££{®°ÊœÜÊœÊ you think these results were influenced by soil management practices in those areas. Consider factors such as amount and type of soil disturbance, organic matter inputs, presence of surface organic layer, etc. Ê {°ÊœÜÊœÊ̅iÃiÊw˜`ˆ˜}ÃÊÀi>ÌiÊ̜Ê>}ÀˆVՏÌÕÀ>Ê
   productivity and sustainability?


4. If you were in charge of management
   decisions for the farm soils that were
   sampled, would you alter any practices based
   œ˜Ê̅ˆÃʈ˜vœÀ“>̈œ˜¶Ê7…Þ¶

Instructor’s Demonstration 3 Outline